Heart of Ice

PARANORMAL:  Alice Worth is a mage who was held captive by her grandfather for 20 years while he used her magical powers to destroy people and solidify his power base in Baltimore.  She escaped after faking her own death, and created a new life for herself on the west coast with friends and a relationship with Sean Maclin.  Sean is a werewolf shifter who runs a security firm and is the alpha of his pack.  He is patiently waiting for Alice to trust him, which is difficult after her long captivity. Alice’s grandfather is trying to knock a rival out of business and is wreaking havoc in her new hometown.  Meanwhile, Alice is under attack from someone who hates paranormal beings, so she has teamed up with Sean, who is providing security for her.  

There are previous stories in this series, but the author does a credible job of giving the uninitiated reader the needed background information to extrapolate the basics, without extraneous details.  After a slow start, the action moves along at a steady pace. The characters are flawed, yet likeable, and well-developed.  The author creates a believable world where humans live and accept vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and mages; however, sometimes things go wrong.  Alice is a no-nonsense loner, learning to depend on others and discovering her own abilities.  She has a trusty sidekick—a ghost named Malcolm—who often comes in handy and adds delightful fun to the story!

Felicity Munroe does a good job of distinguishing the various male and female voices in this audiobook.  This book adapts well in this audiobook production and is a fun and engaging listen!  There are times when the audiobook drags slightly, but overall, it is a quality production without superfluous noises or glitches in the telling. 

Carey Sullivan